# CVE-2025-7073: Bitdefender Total Security local privilege escalation in ATC module

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-7073-bitdefender-total-security-local-privilege-escalation-in-atc  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-12-10. Updated: 2026-05-18  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-7073 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2025-12-10

A security vulnerability in Bitdefender antivirus products could allow a user with limited access to gain full administrative control over a computer. By manipulating temporary files used by the software, an attacker can delete or replace critical system files. This could lead to a complete system takeover, data theft, or the disabling of security protections.

Technologies: [Bitdefender Antivirus](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/antivirus), [Bitdefender Internet Security](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internet-security), [Bitdefender Total Security](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/total-security). Vendors: [Bitdefender](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/bitdefender).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-7073 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-7073 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-7073?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 10 December 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Bitdefender Antivirus Free < 30.0.25.77; Bitdefender Antivirus Plus < 27.0.47.241; Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools for Windows < 7.9.20.515; Bitdefender Internet Security < 27.0.47.241; and 1 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-7073?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2025-7073 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-7073?** Check whether you run Bitdefender Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Active Threat Control (ATC) module of several Bitdefender products due to improper symbolic link validation in 'bdservicehost.exe'. The service attempts to delete files within the user-writable 'C:\ProgramData\Atc\Feedback' directory; a local attacker can use symbolic links to redirect these deletions to arbitrary system files. By chaining this arbitrary file deletion with a file copy operation triggered during network events and bypassing filter drivers via DLL injection, an attacker can achieve arbitrary file writes and code execution with SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability is patched in Total Security/Internet Security/Antivirus Plus version 27.0.47.241, Antivirus Free version 30.0.25.77, and BEST for Windows version 7.9.20.515.

## Affected products

- Bitdefender Total Security < 27.0.47.241
- Bitdefender Internet Security < 27.0.47.241
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus < 27.0.47.241
- Bitdefender Antivirus Free < 30.0.25.77
- Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools for Windows < 7.9.20.515

## Timeline

- 2025-12-10: disclosed
- 2025-12-10: advisory

## References

- [https://www.bitdefender.com/support/security-advisories/local-privilege-escalation-via-arbitrary-file-operation-in-bitdefender-atc-va-12590](https://www.bitdefender.com/support/security-advisories/local-privilege-escalation-via-arbitrary-file-operation-in-bitdefender-atc-va-12590)

## Related threats

- [Bitdefender Total Security privilege escalation in File Shredder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-6851-bitdefender-total-security-privilege-escalation-in-file-shredder)